Rumor - Confirmed

Next Gen: StoryMaker/Next Gen Enhancements to Existing Rides and Queues

Time Frame

Continuous, beginning March 2016

Rumor Status

Confirmed

Specific Details

One of the main components of the "Next Gen" program is the addition of RFID chips onto park tickets and Magic Bands. These chips are used for park entrance, syncing photos to Memory Maker/Photo Pass and Fastpass+ reservations

One of the long standing rumors related to this technology has also been introduced. This interactive component is called StoryMaker and has debut at the following location:

"it's a small world"'s final scene has a specialized goodbye message for guests wearing Magic Bands. Debuted on March 9, 2016.

"Rock 'n' Roller Coaster has a specialized welcome message for guests in the queue. Debuted on or around April 13, 2016.

"Haunted Mansion" has a customized ending where the hitchhiking ghosts interact with guests. Guests may see their name on a tombstone as part of this interaction. Debuted on or around April 18, 2016.

Expedition Everest has screens in the queue that include interactive messages. Debuted on or around April 13, 2016.

Mission: SPACE had interactive enhancements added. Debuted on or around April 18, 2016

Space Mountain had interactive enhancements added to the post show. Debuted on or around May 11, 2016.

Toy Story Midway Mania had interactive enhancements added to the Etch a Sketch in the attraction queue. Debuted on or around May 13, 2016.

Other potential enhancements include:

Mickey Mouse would recognize your name at the interactive meet and greet.

Additions at Muppet*Vision 3-D and Star Tours

Rumor Timeline

May 13, 2016: WDWMagic.com user JakeSpadaro posted a photo of the Etch a Sketch in the Toy Story Midway Mania queue wishing a guest a happy birthday. It appears this attraction is now using StoryMaker as well.

May 11, 2016: WDWMagic.com user AquaDuck is reporting that a StoryMaker feature has been added to the post-show for Space Mountain.

April 23, 2016: WDWMagic.com user MrNonacho is reporting that Interactive "Mission Rosters" were added to Mission: SPACE last week and Muppet*Vision 3-D and Star Tours are also setup to receive these enhancements. YouTube user DarthVader92 posted a video of the new Mission Rosters.

April 19, 2016: BlogMickey.com is showing photos of StoryMaker being used at Expedition Everest and The Haunted Mansion.

April 18, 2016: Twitter user @Schmoofy is reporting that StoryMaker is being used at The Haunted Mansion. Guests wearing Magic Bands will see their name on a tombstone as part of the hitchhiking ghosts interaction at the end of the ride.

April 13, 2016: Twitter user @BrianCarey_ and BlogMickey.com is reporting that StoryMaker is being tested at Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. StoryMaker debuted as an interactive element at the end of "it's a small world" and it appears Disney is continuing to add this to other attractions as well.

The screens are in the queue for Rock 'n' Roller Coaster and similar screens have also been spotted in the queue for Expedition Everest.

March 9, 2016: @TouringPlans on Twitter shared a photo of the interactive specialized goodbye at the end of "it's a small world"

March 1, 2016: WDWMagic.com is reporting that Disney will soon introduce StoryMaker, the long discussed interactive component of MyMagic+. Examples of it's use are as follows:

"it's a small world"'s final scene would recognize where a guest is from and specialize the goodbye message

Mickey Mouse would recognize your name at the interactive meet and greet.

March 1, 2016: On Episode 98 of the Unofficial Guide's Disney Dish podcast with Jim Hill, Jim mentioned that he does not anticipate the interactive component of My Disney Experience to take place.

November 22, 2014: InsideTheMagic.net and other sites showcased the new queue for Peter Pan's Flight. Additional interactive components are expected to be added in 2015.

March 21, 2014: The Disney Parks Blog announced the launch of the new site SmallWorld50.com. The new site celebrates the 50th Anniversary of 'it's a small world', and some of the components very well may be used as part of an interactive queue for the attraction in the future.

September 5, 2013: WDWMagic.com has posted a photo update of the new queue signage for The Haunted Mansion that features light up signs for Standby and Fastpass+

August 17, 2013: WDWMagic.com has reported that "it's a small world" will be undergoing a refurbishment from December 2-12. It is unknown if this is related to Next Gen enhancements.

June 11, 2013: Reports on WDWMagic.com state that Spaceship Earth will undergo a refurbishment from August 18-24. The nature of the work is unknown, but it is expected that some NextGen components will be included.

May 29, 2013: At the D11 Conference, Tom Staggs discussed many aspects of Next Gen include it's integration into attractions like "it's a small world" where personalized messages such as a guest's name or birthday will soon be integrated into the ride itself.

January 13, 2013: Multiple reports indicate that the final scene of "it's a small world" has been blacked out. The scene previously featured flowers that had the word "Goodbye" printed in several different languages.

February 10, 2012: StitchKingom.com leaked several concept photos of interactive elements for it's a small world, but it is currently unknown if these are early concepts or what is actually being installed.